Fire protection and signal system.



J'. E. SHEPHERD. HRB PROTECTION AND SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 13, IQOB.

Pantea Nov.23,19o.

JOHNVE. SHEPHERD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINGIS.

FIRE PROTECTION AND SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 1.3, 1908.

Patented Nov. 2;., Matig. Serial No. 415,746.

To allwwm 'it may concern:

it known that I, JOHN E. SHEPHERD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and uset'ul Improvements in Fire-Protection Signal System, of which the following is a Specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tire protection and signal systems, and has for its primary object to provide an improved lire signal initiating system operable independently of, or to best advantage in conjunction with, automatic sprinkler systems for tire extinguishing purposes.

ileretofore automatic tire alarm signaling has usually been eii'ected by a system of one of three types, electric circuits embodying theri'nostats, Ludlow systems, or signaling systems operatin` in conjunction with fire extinguishers. Ot' these several syst-eins tlierniostatic systems are open to objection on account ot' frequent failure due to the delicacy and lack of power in the movements of the thermostatic circuit controlling parts and their liability to become inoperative utter long periodsof inactivity.

The Ludlow system of signal initiation sometimes'employed conten'iplates the provision ot' a pipingsystem normal under atmospheric pressure but containing therein a volatile substance trei'neudously expansive under the influence of heat to create a signal actuating pressure upon thc occurrence of an undue heat condition in the localit \Y of the system. Such systems heretofore have been deemed objectionable owing,

to the lack it certainty ot' the condition of' the volatile substance and have been found frequently to fait to accomplish their object'. l `nrthermore it is now customary to operate a sigjvnaliug system in conjunction with an automatic sprinkler system, pro- .viding supervisory means for various important elements of the extinguisher tem arranged for actuation upon thc occurrence, of undue conditions in the system, such as thc presence ot' water-flow in the piping and the like. Such systems operating as auxiliaries to a lire 'extinguishing sprinkler equipment` have been highly orlcanin/rd, but viewed from the standpoint of signaling alone7 they have the disadvantaffe that a water-dmv signal must' practically )e delayed in order to obviatc the dil'ticulty third iioors of a building;` to la; proteiztcd of false alarms due 'to Water hammer, and further the cost of installa-tion of the sprinltler system is often a bar to the provision ot' adequate signaling protection in areas or risks where the lire danger is not 'suiicient to warrant the installation of a coniplete sprinkler system or the conditions of water supply do not favor such an installation.

' My invention is designed to provide a lire protective signal system, which will aiiord complete and efficient signaling protection in risks whereit is inexpedicnt or too pensive to install complete sprinkler systems, which will obviate the ditiiculty of thermostatic action and insure maintenance of proper potentiality in the system and will enable the instant transmission or' a tire alarm upon the occurrence of undue heat conditions within the supervised area.

lfurtlieinnore my invention operable in conjunction with a partial fire extinguisher equipment so that in risks where the lire har/.ard is confined to lower areas, such as thebasements and lower tioors, the desired sprinkler protection for the hazardous areas ma)Y be combined with signal protection for the lessl hazardtms areas.

In the drawingsl have illustrato-,tl in `vcliomatic fashion, for illustrative purposes only. av simple embodiment of my invention sutil cient tor disclosure o't` its nature and to iilustrate a'practical installation, although it will be understood by those skilled in the art that precise conditions as to installation boh ot',

the hydraulic and elet-tric apparatus so vary in particular localitiesy and in panicular buildings to be protected that chain L and often must be made in the dctans oi equipment to moet the imposed ctnulition.-i, without departure trom the spirit and scope ot' my invention.

ln said drawings; Figure ,i is a diagrammatic View of a plant etptippcd for parti-a; extinguisher-servico and partial signal protcction, .showingI in diagrammatic fashion one form of electric installation suitaiiile i' the prat-tice ot my intention. Fig. 2 enlarged detail of a fragment oi the hg.'- draulie equipment. showing the restrictor o1. reducer preferably employed in the practice of my invention.

ln the drawing;A A, l, C and l), rept-estan..

respectively the ba.. tent, first, second nd wherein it may be that the ire hazard is mainly confined to the basement or lower Hoor, or wherein the water supply conditions make it inexpedient to provide an extinguisher equipment throughout the entire building, or where for other causes sprinkler protection is desired through only lower areas, and signal protection is desired in upper floors. In the drawing, a localized sprinkler system for the basement or lower floors indicated by A, is shown, 5' indicating a pipe representing av city main or other general source of water supply, connminicating either through a tire pump G or a valved bypass 7 with a -main S, with which are connected.

risers 9 and 10 constituting part ot a normal fire extinguisher system localized to the dere'd lower floors, such risers being provided with distribution pipe 1l, equipped with ordinaryy sprinkler heads 12 ot any desired construction, normally closed but responsive to a predetermined degree of heat to open and discharge water supplied throughthe riser 9. This normal sprinkler system may be of any desired character, and each is illustrated provided with a usual gate valve 13 of any desired construction. In some instances it may be practical to supply the localized sprinkler system with water direct from the city pressure mains 5, and the riser 9 is shown as connected for such supply, but in other instances it may be necessary or desirable to provide auxiliary pressure supply means, such as a pressure tank 15, shown as connected with the riser 10, wherein the pressure applied through the pressure tank 15 may be localized by the interposition of a check valve 16 between the high pressure riser and the lower pressure source otsupply.

The tank 15 is illustrated as of customary character containing a body of water o1' other lire extinguishing fluid, maintained under air pressure, which may be generated as by a pump 17.

In the areas where signal protection alone is to obtain I provide a miniature sprinkler equipment of corresponding character vcomprislng relatively small risers 9 and 10',

A having communicating therewith miniature distribution pipes 11 equipped with miniature discharge heads/12', of similar construction to the regular sprinkler heads. Whether operated in association with the localized sprinkler system or in connection With any other source of water supply, such miniature 'equipment is so arranged that the discharge capacity of one or more of itssprinkler heads is greater than a Huid receptive or supply capacity, and in installations such as I have. 'described I provide for the .positive imposi- "tion of such condition byarranging a re stricter which', whlle permitting of commu n-ieation between the normal sprinkler system' and the miniature system, will not admit of sutlieient fluid-flow from the former to the latter to satisfy the discharge capacity of one, or any other determined number, o the miniaturedischarge heads. 1

In Fig. 2 it is shown that between the normal riser 9 and the miniature riser 9'., is interposed a restricting member 18 shown as comprising a disk having therethrough a small aperture 19 of less area than the dis! charge area of a discharge head 12, 'so that obviously while under normal conditions when the piping system is tightly closed throughout, the fluid pressure within the miniature system is determined by the pressure within the localized extinguisher system or otherfsupply source, and upon the opening of a discharge head the pressure'is immediately reduced, as the restriction -18 reduces the fluid supply to a quantity less than the discharge.

It will be obvious that the pressure maintained within the system when inpotential condition ready for operation to be above atmospheric pressure, and where a water head insuliicient to till the pipes with water to theuppermost area to be supervised is depended upon, the requisite pressure may be maintained in 'the upper ioors by air. For convenient manipulationto secure the desired effect in the system a drain cock 20 may be providedv at a suitable point, preterably just above the gate valve 1S et the risers. Where the natural water supply sufficient, or where auxiliary supply devices such as a pressure'tank 15, are employed, obviously the entire system may be ktpt constantly u-nder water pressure throughout.

Preferably in installations such as I have herein described wherein signal protection only is provided in certain areas, a stand pipe 21 is arranged 'to be supplied with water through the normal pressure or the fire pumps and any usual engine connection 22, may be provided therefor, the stand pipe 11G having on its several floors the customary hose connections 23. i

Obviously the normal sprinkler system may be supervised in any desired or known manner and the supervision of such normal sprinkler system per se forms no part of this invention. A .v y In association with each riser of thel miniature fluid pressure system I provide a pressure gage 25 responsive to the pressure 120 within the system, such pressure being diagrammatically shown as of the Bourclon type, and each carrying an electrical Contact tip 2G, normally making contact with ,an anvil 27 and adapted when the pressure 125 drops below normal to ay predetermined degree not aslow as atmospheric pressure, to make contact with a normally idle anvil 2S, the anvils 27 and 2S are together connected in one leg oia circuit 29, the opposite leg of 13C which has connection to the contact points 2G of the gages.

Each pressure gage is voperatively associated with a signaling device, preferably a plural impulse electric signal transmitter of suitable construction, one embodiment of which I will now describe.

The circuit 29 embodies therein a source of current supply 30, and a controlling magnet 31, normally holding in attracted position its armature 32, which is connected with the controlling nially wound signal transmitter, arranged to be tripped and subsequently stopped upon movement and maintenance of the armature in either direction, the arrangement being such that upon movement of the armature away from its magnet the transmitter is permitted to run to a predetermined extent sufiieient to occasion the transmission of a characteristic plural-impulse signal and is then stopped., while upon reattraction of the armature to its magnet the transmitter is released and allowed to ran for a differs ent period to cause the transmission ot' a distinguishable signal.

ln the drawing l have-indicated a form ot transmitter now well known, embodying a signal wheel '33 arranged to be spring driven through a train including a slower moving wheel 3st-, provided with'a raised rim having an interior notch and an exterior notch at different circumferential points and stand by a forked arm 3G centrally pivoted at 37 and carrying on its other extremity the armature said arm being provided with a finger 38, arranged Awhen at either extremity of its movementI to engage the rapidly vibrating parts) ot 'the esicapement of the transmitter1 but when in mid-position to free said escapement for n'iovement. Consequently as the transmitter stands with one ot its forked arms engaging the inner notch of the rim 35 the transmitter is held stationary, and when the magnet 3l releases its armature the lever 36 is drawn over to midposition freeing the motor mechanisml for ope ation until the exterior notch in the rim comes into engagement by the outer tine ot the fork when the motor is again stopped. Further release of the motor by reattraction of the armature permits the running of the motor until the interior notch ot' the rim ma),7 be again engaged by the lower tine of the fork., The parts may readily be so proportioned that during the lirst movement of the motor parts the signal wheel 33 makes a different number of revolutions from the number made during the succeeding period of release of the motor, for example, when the arn'iature is retracted the signal wheel may make two revolutions, ,and when the armatureis reattracted it may make three revolutions. The signal transmitter may be arranged in' any .suitable circuit extending mechanism of a norto a supervisory station7 at which station is 'provided a signal responsive mechanism.

ln the specific embodiment shown the signal wheelfl lprovided with pens 40 connected in a. ,circuit21, one leg ot' which at central stationconnected through a relay magnet 42, tofthepositive pole of a generator 43 thenegative:terminal of which is grounded. f'llfheiotherlgl'eg of the circuit 41 being grounded. .j The signaling relay 42 has an armature .controlling a local circuit 44, suitably energii'edfby a battery 5 and containingsa signal-.receiving and recording device 40ct suitable character.

It will be apparent now that if the riser 9 contains water under comparatively low pressure, only the lower floors of the build ing will be,supplied-with water, but the air t-hereahove lin the miniature system will be maintained under equivalent pressure and the corresponding pressure gage maintained in circuit closing posit-ion against the upper contact 27 oit' theelectrieal devices. It tire occurs within the sprinkled area it should be extinguished through the agenc7 ot tht` sprinkler system, and bythe provision of any usual alarml apparatus customary alarms may be transmitted tor the central station. In the upper areas, however, occurrence ot tire immediately-fuses a miniature discharge head4 which 'by virtue fof the maintenance ot' constant pressure :inthe piping connected therewithis pract' ally: infallible in operaA tion and has `rreduced to the minimum the disadvantages-ot deterioration due to long periods of disuse. When such discharge head opens thetluid within the piping rushes out therethrough at ay rate faster than it can be supplied Athrough the restrictor 1S and consequently pressure reduction instantly occurs in the miniatuilfe s vstemso `that th:x pressure gage 25x'espo11ds, tirstbreaking the cir cuit and then .almostz-immediately making the circuit againagainstrthe lower coacting anvil. Thus ,tlmicircuit 2f) is momentarily broken and then restored so that the magnet 31 first releases and then attracts its armature, and the wheel 34. is permitted to make a full cycle before it is stopped, in such cycle occasioningthe transmitting wheel 3? to rotate tive times, sendingvits distinctive numbei' signal five timesnoveixthe circuit to be recorded atcentral station `upon the recorder 46. rlhus adistinctivelire signal caused to be transmitted.almost instantly upon the occurrence oi undue heat conditions within the area protected by the signaling protective signal. (ln the other hand in the event of a slow leak in the signaling piping system, where. the piping is filled with air under pressure, as inthe riser 9', the circuit is opened but a considerable time elapses before it, is again closed, so that the transmitter sends its distinctive number only twice and a considerable dwcl-l occurs before thc rest ot the signal or three rounds of fa signal wheel i is transmitted.' rThus the double signal is easily distinguishable from a true tire signal.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of lmy invention for purposes of vfull disclosure thereof, it will be understood that I .do not intend to limit myself to the particular' apparatus shown and described.

Having lthus .described my invention, what I claim as desire to secure by LettersjPatent, is:

l. A fire alarm signaling system comprising a piping .equipment extending lthroughout an area to be protected connected with a source of fluid supply, and Containing fluid normally under pressure, and providing heat--released fluid discharging means distributed .throughout the protected area, of means .for restricting the supply of fluid from thel supply source to the discharge means below the volumetric discharge capacity of said dischargingmeans, and a signaling device associated with the piping system beyond the restriction responsive to a drop of' pressure therein. Q.. In a fire protective System a source of water supply, a miniature piping system communicating therewith and containing fluid normally under pressure, said piping system providing discharge heads normally closed, arranged to open when heated, thereby to discharge the fluid under pressure, means for constantly restricting the water supply to the pipe to a volume below its discharge capacity, and signaling devices associated with said piping system responsive to a drop of pressure therein.

3. In a fire protective system, a source of water supply, a miniature piping system communicating therewith, and containing fluid normally under pressure, said piping' system extending throughout the area to be protected providing miniature discharge heads, normally closed, arranged to open when heated, thereby to discharge fluid under pressure, means for restricting' the fluid supply of said pipe to Volume below t-he discharge capacity of one of said dis charge heads, a pressure gage associated with said piping systemresponsive to pressure changes therein, an electric signal transmitter associated with the gage for control thereby, an energized signaling circuit.for 'said transinitter, and signa-l responsive means.A in said circuit. l

4. In a fire protection system, av, localized normal sprinkler equipment'"comprising a riser maintained under fluidpressure and branch pipes provided with vsprinkler heads, local to the lower portions of the protected area, similar miniature sprinkler equipments having communication with said normal etpiipnient the miniature equipment frointhe normal equipment, but insufficient to supply a fluid commensurate with the discharge capacity of the discharge heads of said miniature equipment, and a signaling device responsive to drop in pressure in said miniature equipment.

5. ln a fire protection system, a localized normal sprinkler equipment, comprising a riser maintained under pressure, and branch pipes provided with sprinkler heads, local to the lower portions 'of the protected area, similar miniature sprinkler equipments connected with the normal equipment and a restricting part affording communication between the miniature and normal equipment insufficient to-supply fluid to the miniature system commensurate with the discharge capacity of one of its discharge heads.

(i. In a fire protection system, a main source of water supply, anormal riser communicating therewith extending to only the sufficient to maintain pressure in lower portion of the area to be protected,

normal sprinkler equipment connected with said riser in the lower areas of said risk, a miniature riser con'imunicating with said normal riser, miniature sprinkler equipmenty connected with said miniature riser in the upper areas of the risk to be protected, arestriction between the normal and miniature risers, affording fluid supply to the miniature equipment less than its discharge capaci-ty, and alarm devices responsive to a drop in pressure in the miniature piping.

In testimonyl whereofl I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. SHEPHERD. In the presence of-r Fomin Bain, MARY F. ALLEN. 

